Malaysia’s challenge fizzles out in Orleans Masters

 Two singles shuttlers and a men's doubles pair fail to make it to the quarter-finals in France.

National singles players Justin Hoh and Wong Ling Ching, who lost in their round-of-16 matches in the Orleans Masters, will represent Malaysia in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals in Denmark from April 24 to May 3.

PETALING JAYA:

 Malaysia’s challenge in the Orleans Masters in France fizzled out this morning when the remaining two singles shuttlers and a men’s doubles pair lost their matches in the round of 16.

Singles player Justin Hoh came nearest to a victory when he went down narrowly to Taiwan’s Su Li-yang 21-16, 17-21, 20-22.

Justin, ranked world No 38, is a member of Malaysia’s Thomas Cup squad which will be playing in the finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3.

National women’s singles player Wong Ling Ching, ranked world No 37, who has been having a fine run recently, was stopped in her tracks by India’s Malvika Bansod, losing 22-24, 13-21.

Ling Ching, who qualified for the quarter-finals of the German Open last month, is a member of Malaysia’s Uber Cup squad bound for the finals, also to be played in Horsens.

Men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing, who reached the Swiss Open quarter-finals after upsetting two top Indonesian pairs last week, lost 17-21, 14-21 to Rasmus Kjaer and Christian Faust Kjaer of Denmark.

Aaron-Khai Xing have not been named to the Thomas Cup team, which will comprise three pairs in the world’s top 10 – 2022 world champions and world No 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, world No 6 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and world No 7 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.

Malaysia are grouped with Japan, England and Finland in the Thomas Cup finals, and will have Japan, Turkey and South Africa for company in the Uber Cup finals. - FMT